Prost very satisfied: 'Alonso is back, for sure'

Fernando Alonso left Formula 1 in 2018 after a disappointing adventure at McLaren, but this year the two-time world champion is back. This time he drives for Alpine, the former Renault with which he won his titles, where he needed some time to find his feet. For team advisor Alain Prost this is no more than logical, who knows like no other what it is like to return to the sport after some time away.

Not so much testing

Prost said in conversation with Autosport.com "I always remember when I stopped for what was really only six months in fact in '92, how difficult it was to come back. But we were testing every week, we were testing all time. So it was obvious that Fernando could not be at the top at the beginning. “It's a new car, new team, and also not driving F1 for two years. He had the target of the French GP more or less, saying ‘Okay, well, I need four or five races.’"

However, Alonso's performance is on the rise and Prost is bold enough to say that Alonso is now truly back. "It's nothing special, it's a normal way. Now he's back, for sure," says the four-time world champion. He compares Alonso's situation mainly to his own, because while there was obviously a difference in the absence in terms of time, Alonso does not have the luxury of infinite testing and trying.

Difficult for Alonso

"And you need to get time to get everything correct. The automatism, and the vision and everything, I found it difficult. So I realised how difficult it must be for someone like Fernando who did not F1 for two years. And then you have only one day and a half testing with the new car, with all the systems you need to understand. I don't know if the age is a criteria. But in the case of Fernando he very strong, he is still in good shape."

"It's more the fact that it's normal, driving F1, the best car in the world. If he was at the top immediately, it would not be normal, honesty," Prost said in conclusion about Alonso's return and his current performance. It is clear that the team advisor is satisfied and if Alonso is now at his top of his game then we can no doubt look forward to some great races from the Spaniard.

In France Alonso crossed the finish line in eighth place, driving a significantly better race than teammate Esteban Ocon, who came no further than fourteenth.